Who Gets the Kids on Halloween? Holiday Parenting Time in Michigan
Who gets the kids on Halloween depends on what your parenting time order says. If Halloween is listed as a holiday in your order, follow it. If your order doesn't mention Halloween, your regular parenting time schedule applies. This year Halloween falls on a Saturday, so in many families that means whoever has the weekend has trick-or-treating.
Here is how to figure out where you stand and how to keep the night fun for your kids.
Start by reading your parenting time order
Pull out your judgment of divorce or custody order and look for a holiday section. Many Michigan orders include Halloween, often alternating between parents by year or splitting the evening. Some orders set specific times, like 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Holiday parenting time generally takes priority over the regular schedule. So if your order gives you Halloween in even years, you have it this year even if it isn't your weekend.
What if my order says "reasonable parenting time"?
Some orders don't spell out a schedule at all and simply grant "reasonable" or "liberal" parenting time. That leaves it to the two of you to agree. It works well when parents cooperate and poorly when they don't.
If you can't agree, you can ask the court to set a specific schedule. Michigan's Friend of the Court publishes a Parenting Time Guideline that many courts use as a starting point for holidays.
What if Halloween isn't in my order at all?
Then the regular schedule controls. Whoever would normally have the children on Saturday, October 31 has them for Halloween.
That doesn't stop you from working something out. Plenty of co-parents agree to trade or split the night. Just put any agreement in writing, even a simple text or email, so there is no confusion later.
Ideas for sharing Halloween
If both of you want time with the kids, a few options work well:
One parent handles costume prep and an early party, the other takes trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treat in one neighborhood, then drop off for a second round or candy sorting at the other home
Alternate years going forward, and ask to add it to your order
The goal is a night your kids remember for the costumes and candy, not the conflict.
What if my co-parent won't follow the order?
If your order gives you Halloween and the other parent refuses to follow it, document what happened. Michigan law allows for makeup parenting time when time is wrongfully denied, and the Friend of the Court can help with enforcement. Repeated violations can also be raised with the court.
If there is a Personal Protection Order in place, always follow its terms for exchanges and contact, even on holidays.
Make next year easier
If Halloween causes stress every year, it may be time to add it to your order. A clear schedule protects your time and gives your kids something predictable to count on.
DAWN helps Michigan mothers create, modify, and enforce parenting time orders that work in real life.
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